Hospitality Business Magazine

New Zealand has been named this year’s must-visit vacation spot for foodies in the United States, taking the top spot in a new comprehensive index. 

Student travel company Rustic Pathways analysed 70 travel destinations against 32 factors related to popularity among US travellers, logistics and costs (flights and hotels), local safety, geopolitical stability, tourist activities, and dining experience. 

Extra emphasis was given to factors related to dining to create the foodie index, which included the availability of food tours per 100k international arrivals, restaurant density per 100k arrivals and locals, and average mid- and fine-dining visitor ratings. Each destination was given a final score out of 100 to form the ranking. 

This comes after a recent vacation trends report from hospitality brand Hilton found that for budget-conscious travellers, dining experiences were the second most important factor in vacationing, after accommodation. The report states that half (50%) of global travelers book restaurant reservations before their flights, while nearly 1 in 5 travel specifically to seek out new culinary experiences. 

Foodie Index: Must-Visit Destinations for 2025

New Zealand takes first place, scoring 68.04 out of 100 for foodie appeal. We are a hidden gem for US travellers, attracting just 0.6% of US vacationers each year, according to the most recent Survey of International Air Travelers. Meanwhile, Costa Rica attracts 2.4%, Japan attracts 4.3%, and Italy attracts 8.3%. 

As we know food enthusiasts who do visit won’t be disappointed, as New Zealand has the second-highest availability of mid-dining restaurants per 100k international arrivals and local residents, at 38.97. 

This is 370% higher than the average availability recorded in the study (8.3 mid-dining establishments per 100k), meaning tourists are less likely to be stuck in lengthy queues waiting for a table and have more choice of affordable places to eat.  

These mid-dining options also hold an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.4 out of five stars, while the country’s fine-dining restaurants are also rated highly at 4.5 stars. And for visitors who prefer food tours to sit-down meals, New Zealand boasts the highest availability of food and drink tours per 100k international arrivals, at 3.38. 

We’re not the cheapest destination to visit, with the average return flight this September costing $US1,147.88 per person and hotels at $US81 per night, but it’s clearly worth it for foodies.

In second is Costa Rica, scoring 62.64 out of 100. With return flights standing at $US425.33pp this September and a hotel costing $US89 per night, it’s a much cheaper option than the frontrunner New Zealand – but there’s less restaurant choice. 

The destination has 18.61 mid-dining restaurants available per 100k arrivals and locals, holding an impressive average rating of 4.57 stars. For fine-dining options, there’s 1.5 available per 100k with a 4.68-star rating. Food tours are unfortunately few and far between, with 0.77 available for every 100k international arrivals. 

Japan ranks third, with an index score of 60.51 out of 100. Japan sits in the middle for flight prices at $819.12 for a September return flight, while hotels average $90 a night. The availability of food tours is slightly higher than in Costa Rica, at 1.05 per 100k international arrivals. 

Of the top three destinations, Japan offers the best availability for fine-dining spots at 3.15 per 100k arrivals and locals, with each holding an average rating of 4.42 stars. For mid-dining options, there are 10.89 per 100k with an average 4.45-star rating. 

Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO of Rustic Pathways, said of the study: 

“There are plenty of reasons to pick one vacation destination over another – and for food lovers, the availability and quality of restaurants or food and drink-based attractions can be a major deciding factor. The rise in culinary tourism has placed a greater emphasis on dining experiences than ever before, and it’s clear some destinations are better for food enthusiasts to visit this year than others. 

“September is also a great time to visit New Zealand, as crowds have thinned with the return of the school year, flight and hotel costs start to level out, and produce like strawberries, lamb, and whitebait are at their seasonal peak as it’s early spring. 

“However, this study doesn’t recommend destinations for food lovers with the exclusion of factors that should always be considered when vacation planning. By accounting for key aspects like local crime rates and conflict probability, as well as affordability and appeal, this is a well-rounded list of destinations to visit this fall.” 

Overall, the destination with the highest availability of affordable restaurants is Belize, with 49.7 spots available per 100k international arrivals and locals. The study’s fine-dining hotspot is Singapore, with 3.08 restaurants per 100k. 

Singapore also holds the highest average Tripadvisor rating across mid-dining options at 4.74 out of five stars, while United Arab Emirates and Honduras share the top spot for fine-dining establishment ratings, standing at 4.78 out of five stars. 

Full raw data including all ranking categories listed above can be seen here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SrXQk1LGU0cAndfVTRblWdSQbJkIkYcK3uLU6EG50hU/edit?usp=sharing

The top 25 destinations for foodies: Key food-related factors